Well drilling equipment



April 12, 1932-' u w. s. @AT1-REM.` l 1,853,856

Y WELLDRILLING EQUIPMENT y v Filed oct. 1, 1928 1 3 sheets-sheet 1 6 EMEe LEZ April 12, 1932. 'W s, GATTRELL 1,853,856

WELL DRILLING'EQUIPMENT I Filed oct. 1, 1928 3 sheets-Sheet 2 56' E .55ffl Q o -O- O E 7 E 4e 5 A 44 '132 V s q 2 3/ 3 'Ef April 12, 1932- W.s. GATTRELL Y WELL DRILLING EQUIPMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed OCC. l, 1928Patented 12, 1932 UNITED l s'rA-Tlazs PATENT oFFieE WILLIAM S. GrATTRELIJ, F LEES SUMMIT, MISSOURI WELL DEILLING EQUIPMENT Applicationfiled October 1, 1928. Serial No 309,619.

y The present device is similar in some respects tothat disclosed in myeo-pending application filed April 30, 1926, Serial No. 103,- 191, butembodies certain improvements and points of distinction therefrom,

In drilling wells with a .rotary drilling equipment in localities wheregas pressure 1n the well is common, there is always the danger of thegas pressure overcoming the weight of n the drill stem and the flushingfluid in the 0 Well; when this Voccurs itis termed a blow-out andusually results in wrecking the well,

- derrick'and all adjacent equipment. Blowout preventers and othersimilar devices have been constructed but with most of them now pressureexists or to safely remove or insert the drill stem.

It is an object of my invention to equip the well in such a manner thatthe drill pipe may be manipulated in a well under pressure withoutdanger of a blow-out. It is aparticular object of the invention to allowthe removal of the drill stem lfrom the well under high pressure and tocontrol the flow of gas and liquid from the well when' the high pressurestratum is encountered.

A further object is to provide a device capable ofpaccommodating one ormore sections of the drill stem and which is readily remov- I able to beplaced in one corner of the derrick Where it will be readily availablewhen pressure in the'well is impending.

A further object is toconstruct the device v so that by a slightalteration `the restraining force may be applied to permit removal or tocompel insertion of the drill stem.

Another object is to incorporate in my device novel glands, oilingdevices, slip constructions andl assemblies and to otherwise imavailableit is impossible to drill while the.

prove the structure thereof to obtain a simple, practical mechanism aswill be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which myimprovement appertains.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 shows a vertical elevation, partlybroken away to show the internal construction of the control cylinder'ofmy mechanism, this particular assembly being adapted for removingthevdrill or other tubing from the well under a pressure which wouldtend to blow the pipe from the well.

Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1 but shows the arrangement within thecylinder in orderto insert the tubing into a well under pressure.

Fig. 3 is a partial elevation and a partial section of the deviceadjacent the derrick platform and upon which the cylinder of eitherFia'. 1 or Fig. 3 is adapted to be supported.

Fig. 4 is an elevation, partly broken away, of the casing head, outletand gate valvesand is a continuation of Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and-6 ar esections sponding lines of Fig. 1.

Figs. 7 to 11 inclusive are'sections taken on corresponding lines ofFig. 3.

The structure oftlny improved device will be most readily apparent byhaving reference to Fig. 4, which shows the -usual well casing at l,with a gate valve 2, swaged nipple 3 and a specially constructedcasinghead 4 disposed 8 one upon the other with threaded engagement, and beingof such diameter as to permit passage of the drill stem, tools, etc. Thecasing head 4 has a lateral mud line as at 5, which carries a shutlovalve 6. It is through this line that the flushing fluid and desiredpressures are admitted to and released from the well bore. It will benoted thatthe n'ipple 3 has a beveled upper end or lip 7 which isadapted to seat in al corresponding formation in the casing head 4. Thisformation gives a smoothpassage thru the members `and serves to furtherprevent leaking at this joint.

The casing head 4 also carries a bullplug 8. which is adapted to bereplaced by a line of pipe similar to the line 5, when desired. Such aline may be used as an outlet for the flow of the well.

The upper end of the casing head 4 is best taken on correber 12, whichis constructed tocarry the load of my improved device about to bedisclosed.

This connection 12 is specially formed, one of the novel features beingan oiling passage 13 which extends inwardly and downwardly to terminatein a cavit-y or a plurality of opento the drill stem 15. It has beendifficult in the past `to obtain proper lubrication of the Y drilltubing when the well is under pressure' and the packing glands arequickly 'displaced and destroyed, whereas with the passage justdescribed lubricant may be forced into the cavity 14, as desired It mustbe remembered that the present device'is constructed to withstand highpressures and to this `end a triple gland structure has been provided,as shown at 18, 19 and 20. Y

' The gland 18 is formed for sliding adjustnient instead of beingthreaded into the base 12, and bolts 22 are threaded into the base andpass thru openings in the iange 24 of the gland. Thus by adjusting thenuts 25 any desired pressure may be exerted upon the packing 26 ineither direction. This sliding I type gland has been provided, as inrotary equipment, the drill stem gradually tightens the threaded type ofgland and destroys the packing o-r twists oii' `the, gland. With thegland 18, as here shown, the plurality of bolts provided, as will beseen from Fig. 11, prevent any tendency of the gland to rotate anda'serviceablepackingisthus retained. The nuts above and below the iiangeprevent the drill pipe from moving the gland in either direction. Thisgland 18 is located inan enlarged annular seat in the base 12 andsurrour ds the larger gland 19 which is similar in construction to thatof 18 and has a ilange 27 to receive the bolts 22. See Fig. 10. Thegland 19, however, is provided with an upwardly extending portion 28,having a cavity to receive the packing 29, top gland 20,

flange' 31 and nuts 32, which have adjusting bolts23 threaded into theflange 30 of the portion 28. See Fig. 9. Tt will be noted that theanges-24, 27 and 31 are somewhat oval in shape, as shown in Figs. 9 and10, and at their ends are divided to form portions which extend aboutlthe rods 40. These portions may abut against the rods to preventrotation of the glands and act as a further means, in addition to thebolts described, to retain the glands in a rigid position. it will I beapparent from the assembly of glands that v been-provided.

any lealn'ng along the drill tubing 'will bev entirely eliminated andthat readily adjust-l able, serviceable, non-rotatable packing has Theequipment I4 have provided to facilii tate handling of the drill pipeunder pressure is shown. in Figs. 1 and 3, Fig. 3 being a,continuation'of Fig. 1. This structure comprises the supporting rods40,`threaded or otherwise removably aiXed to the support 12 and shown insection in Figs. 7 to 11. These rods 40 are threaded thruout most oftheir length and, as stated, pass thru the divided ends of the flanges27 and 31 to the glands. Threaded onto the rods 40v are Y, sleeves 41which carry a spider 42. Rotationl ings 14 in order that lubricant maybe fed.`

of the sleeves thus causes the spider 42 to travel up or down as desiredon the rods. A set of inverted slips or other pipe engaging means 43 aresupported by the spider 42 in a tapered seat, and, as shown in Fig. 3,are

hinged at 44 by means of a lever 45 and collar 46. See Fig. 7. This setof slips is adapted to grip the tubing or pipe when the pressure in thewell tends to force it upwardly. The slips 43 are shown in theirnormalposition and ready at all times to instantly grip the tubing. Above thespider 42 is a second spider 50 which is supported on the base 12 byvmeans of arms 51, also shown in Figs. 7 to 11. This spider 50 carries asecond retained in active position by means of a spring 58 attached toeach. By manipulation of the-sleeves 41 any locking of both sets ofslips may be avoided.

yThe rods 40 pass thru openings in the spider 50 and extend thereabove,providing a'detaehable connection 60 for the supports 61, show in bothFigs. 1 and 3. Thederrick floor is preferably at about the level ofthese connections 60 so that the structure thereabove, and yet to bedescribed, may be rel moved.f The casing head 4, rods 40, spiders 42and50 are all disposed in what is usually termed the cellar, which is anexcavation at the surface of the ground.` However, in some instances,the derrick floor is elevated above the ground and the cellar then is ofless depth. The present structure requires a cellar of about ten andahalf feet, which yis about the depth usually employed. Tt is desirablethat the slip levers 45 and los with forms a tool joint which willread-v ily slide or rotate in the glands. When it is desired to remove atool the stem is withdrawn, or. if under pressure, permitted to riseuntil the tool abuts the base member 12, the gate valve 2 is thenclosedbelow the tool and the entire deviceA unscrewed` at 10, raised above thederrick floor by any suitable elevator, and the tool is changed or thedesired operation performed. A packing ring 11 is shown between thecasing head 4 and base member 12. a

The supports 61 extend above the derrick floor for considerable lengthfand gradually change in cross section to take the forni shown in Fig.6, and have attached thereto the coupling whichforms the base of apressure cylinder 71,v used to` control the movement of the drill'stem.This cylinder comprises a section 72 of pipe, which may be about thirtyor more feet in length, depending upon the pipe sections being handledand is closed at the upper end by a cap 73 and gland 74 similar inconstruction to the gland 18 previously described. Within the cylinder71 is a fluid-tight piston 75 having packings 76 and 77 thereon andretained in position by glands and bolts 78 and 79, respectively. Thelower side of this pist-on has an upwardlyftapering seat adapted toreceive a set of slips or other suitable pipe engaging means 80. In thestructure, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the slips 80 carry bolts 81, whichretain an annular plate 8.2. Between this plate and the piston 75 is acoil spring 83 normally spacing the plate 82 away from the piston andthru the bolts 81, maintaining the slips 8() withdrawn from the seat. Ai large coil spring 84 is disposed in the .base of the cylinder 71 andis adapted to receive the plate 82 when the piston approaches thelowermost position. VThe spring 84 then due to the weight of the piston75 or to pressure exerted thereon from above compresses the smallerspring 83 and forces the slips 8O intothe seat of the piston, and toengaging position on the drill stem 15. A pressure line 85 is shown asleading to the upper end of the cylinder 71 and by means f the handvalve 86 any desired .pressure may be maintained on the piston tocontrol the upward movement thereof. It is presumed that the tubing atthis time is exerting an upward thrust due to the fluid pressure in thewell. Thus a joint adjacent the derrick floor isloosened preparatory tobeing disconnected. While the pipe is gripped by the slips 43, thepiston 75 is lowered and the pipe gripped by the slips 80 sufiicientpressure is placed in the upper cylinder 71 to oppose the well pressure.The slips 43are then loosened by the lever 45 and the piston 75 allowedtobe forced upwardly by the tubing and slips'80.

The loosened joint adjacent the derrick floor passes into the cylinder71 and the piston rises with the stem, restraining it until the pistonreaches almost'the top of the cylinder. The slips 43 are again allowedto grip the stem until the slips 80 release in order that the piston 75may again be lowered and the operation repeated. The loosened joint onthe second trip appears above the cap 73 and the sections above it inthe derrick are disconnected. The hoisting of the tubing is repeateduntil the topmost end is within about the next tool joint appears at thederrick floor it is loosened as before and the entire circle ofoperation is repeated. By this means two or more sections of stem may beremoved undei absolutely safe conditions.

The piston 75 is provided with additional safety means in event enormouspressures are encountered. This means includes the bolts 90 on theunderside of the piston, which have attached thereto chains 91 and whichare in turn connected'with .a cup-shaped annular ring .92 resting in thebase of the cylinder. These chains are arranged so that they are aboutone half the length of the path of travel of the piston 75. Thus whenthe piston has been raised half way up the cylinder the chains begin tolift the cup 92, which thereafter slides upwardly but acts as a bushingor support as regards the stem 15 supporting it and preventing anybuckling which might otherwise occur. This ring 92 also serves. as anabutting shoulder for the piston 75 when the spring. 84V' is compressedand prevents injuryto the bolts`81 and plate 82.

A pressure line 93 with a valve 94 is connected to the base of thecylinder 71 and may be used to force. the piston upwardly -or to cushionit on.v the downward stroke as desired. The `ring 92 has openings, 96 adjacent the cavity 97 to admit the pressure vfluid which may be eitherliquid or gas, as

convenient. VIt would be possible to connect the lines 85 and 93 to thenatural pressure in 4the well, if desired, as the exposed area of asection length of the top of the derrick. As

nection so that a single pipe line is suiicientv to release the pressurefromthe cylinder 71 or an exhaust pipe andvalve may be used.

The base of the cylinder 71 is made readily removable by forming a base95, similar to the cap 73, and carrying a'gland 98, similar to 74. `Thislower cap may be removed for purposes or repairs, or 4replacements tothe piston 75, or other parts.

The apparatus just described is preferably used to restrain the tubingwhile inthe well bore or to safely remove it under pressure which tendto force the tubing from the well.

CII

Such structure as shownin Fig. l is desirable when the well blows in andit is necessary to restrain the tubing, or to remove it, or to retain itin any one position. Thusgif pressure suddenly develops the slips 43instantly grip the tubing as it starts up. The cylinder 71 v is thenattached at 61 and the tubing hitched lbobbing of the tubing isinstantly controlled.

When the well is subject to 'a heavy internal pressure, drilling can-proceed best when the weight of the drill stem and tool is greater thanthe pressure in the well. It is,

therefore, necessary to provide a device to insert thel stem and tool inthe well against this pressure until the pressure is overcome by theweight of the stem. To provide for such a situation, I have arranged-fora slight alteration of the structure within the cylinder 71, which willenable the operator to orce the drill stem into the well in much thesamemanner as it was hitched out. This construction is shown in Fig. 2and varies .from that 'of Fig. 1 only in the arrangement of the spring83. As stated, the spring 83 1 of Fig. 1 normally unseated the slips 80,Whereas the spring 83 of Fig. 2 is adapted to normally seat the slips80. This is provided for by inserting a ring 99 against which thespring83 abuts and which rests against the slips 80. rllhe cushion spring 84may be removed when this form is in use if desired.

It will be seen that the action of this form is similar except that theslips engage thel tubing at the top of cylinder 71, and by pressure fromthe line 85 the piston 71 is forced ydownwardly carrying with it thetubing. The slips 43 are brought into play and grip the tube until the'piston is raised to secure another hold, on the tube. Other i thanthe'changes here set out, Fig. 2 shows the same structure as Fig. 1. Thealterations are quickly` made to the form of Fig. 1, but have been shownas a separate construction for clearness. i

The cylinder? 1 is adapted to stand on and be supported by the member 61so that it may be placed in one corner of the derrick and occupy thesame space as a section of casing but is immediately available for usewhen l needed.

There is still another advantage to be obtained with my improved devicein that the arrangement of tight glands and casing head would permit allthe flushing fluid to be `said rods passing blown from the well bycompressed air or gas. f The drill stem and vtool could be insertedbefore or after the .flushing fluid had been discharged. Drilling couldthen proceed and with my device the cuttings could be blown and carriedawayby the compressed air or gas, thus dispensing entirely with the useof flushing fluid. This would be especially advantageous in drilling inthe well with a rotary as the mud would not be present to mud oi theformation.

I have disclosed herein an embodiment of my present improvements which Ibelieve the purposes 1n view. IlNevertheless, it is to be understoodthat the several essential parts of the improved embodiment might beconstructed in various other alternative forms, and it is accordingly tobe understood that 1n the further development of the device that lreserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changestherein as may be fa1rly embodied within the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed. i

Having described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. A well drilling equipment including a plurality of pipe engagingmeans, one of said ,means being xed upon the casing head of the well,one being vertically adjustable with respect to said fixed head andanother being slidable vertically to carry the pipe therewith, all ofsaid means surrounding said pipe and being coaxial with the pipe to beengaged.

2. A well drilling equipment including two sets of oppositely disposedpipe engaging means adapted to restrain movement of a drill pipelongitudinally and another pipe engaging means surrounding said pipe andadapted to restrain or compel movement of said drill pipe againstinternal well pressure, all of saidsmeans being coaxial.

3. A well drilling equipment comprising a casing, a casing head, a basemember carried by said head, rods carried by said base member, and aspider adjustably mounted on said rods, arms on said base member and aspider carried by said arms, each of saidspiders havlng a set of pipeengaging means therein, thru both of said spiders and adapted to supporta pipe controlling mechanism.

4. A well drilling equipment comprising `opposit'ely disposed drill pipeengaging means adapted to restrain movement of the pipe longitudinally,a cylinder mounted above said means and coaxial with said pipe, andpressure controlled .means in said cylinder to compel movement of thedrill stem against internal well pressure.

5. A well drilling equipment comprising oppositely disposed drill pipeengaging means adapted to restrain movement o the pipe longitudinally, acylinder mounted above said means and coaxial with said pipe, and pres-.to be entirely'satisfactory and practical for y sure controlled meansin said cylinder to compel movement of the drill stem against internalwell pressure, supports for said cylinder which permit access `to thedrill pipe.

. 6. In a Well drilling equipment, a means to compel or restrainmovement of a drill pipe in' a Well having internal pressures in excessof the Weight ofthe said pipe, said means comprising a cylinder, apiston therein, pipe ,n engaging means forming a part of said iston andalso Within said cylinder and uid pressure for compelling or restrainingmovement of said piston.

7. In a Well drilling equipment, a means to compel or restrain movementof a' drill pipe in a Well having internal pressures in excess of theweight of said pipe, said means comprising a cylinder, a iston therein,pipe engaging means carried y said piston and fluid 2Q pressure forcompelling ror restraining move? ment of said piston and additionalmeans movable by said piston to prevent buckling of said pipe. A

8. In a Well drilling equipment, a means to compel or restrain movementof the drill pipe in a Well having internal pressures 1n excess of theweight of said pipe, said means comprising a cylinder, a piston therein,pipe engaging means carried by said. piston and 3o iuid pressure forcompelling or restraining movement of said piston, and additional meansmovable by said piston to prevent buckling of said pipe, and acushioning spring for said piston operable to seat said pipe engagingmeans.

9. In a Well drilling equipment, asmeans to compel or restrain movementof a drill pipe in a well having internal pressures 1n excess of theweight of said pipe, said means comprising a cylinder, a piston therein,pipe engaging means carried by said piston and iuid pressure forcompelling or restraining movement of said piston, and additional meansmovable by said piston to prevent buckling of said pipe, and acushioning spring for said piston operable to seat said pipe enagingmeans, and additional means carried Ey said dpiston and normallyltending to unseat sai pipe engaging means.

10. A well drilling equipment comprising pipe engaging means anchored tothe well casing, a fluid pressure cylinder surmounting said means andalso anchored to the well casing, pipe engaging means slidably dis- -5.5posed in said cylinder to restrain or compel movement of the drill stemfor at least a distance equal to a section length thereof;

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature this 24 day of Sept.,A. D. 1928.

WHJLIAM S. 4GrATTRELL.

